MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2026 · TENN-TOM WATERWAY (COLUMBUS)
Water's in the comfortable 68-degree zone and the shad are moving into the backwaters. Fish the old river runs and creeks early, then follow the bait migration into the stump fields and grass as the sun climbs.
WATER 68°FAIR 61°FWIND 4 MPH ESECLARITY STAINED RIVER WATER — 1-2 FT ON THE RIVER RUNS, CLEARER IN THE BACKWATER OXBOWS BETWEEN FLOWSSEASON FALL
Fall is the year's second-best bite window on the Tenn-Tom, and today you're sitting right in the sweet spot. Water at 68 degrees has the bass fired up and willing to chase, clear skies and light wind mean they'll hold shallow longer than they might otherwise, and the new moon is pushing solunar activity into the 2 PM window on top of the natural morning bite. This time of year the migrating shad are pushing out of the main channel into the creeks and oxbow runs, and the bass are following. You'll see schools blowing up in the open water and singles holding tight to wood and grass along the current breaks. Start on the old river channel edges where depth and structure concentrate both bait and bass, work the backwater creeks where the shad are staging, then dial in the stump fields and grass flats once the sun gets up and the fish adjust deeper.
The day's game plan
EARLY MORNING · 6:56 AM to 8:30 AM
Old river-channel oxbows and creek mouths on both pools, 8 to 14 feet deep, around standing timber and current-break edges where the original Tombigbee channel loops off the navigation ditch
Black and silver or all-black squarebill crankbait, 2.5 to 3 inches, 3/8 ounce. Cast it tight to the timber, work it with a steady medium retrieve and let it deflect off every stick. Or throw a 1/2-ounce white and blue spinnerbait with a single Colorado blade, work it slow and feel for the thump of the blade hitting wood.
The shad are pushing out of the main channel into the backwater creeks and the oxbow sections of the old river channel. The bass are stacked on these current breaks and woody edges, feeding aggressively before the sun climbs. The stained water means a reaction bait with high visibility and thump will trigger strikes from fish that might be scattered. Early light is when schooling activity shows up, so cover water deliberately and watch for blown-up baitfish.
MORNING · 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Backwater creeks and tributary mouths where shad are staging, 6 to 12 feet deep, around scattered grass, water willow, and submerged stumps
White swim jig with a white or chartreuse craw trailer, 1/2 ounce. Pitch it into the grass edges and around stumps, work it with a slow dragging motion along the bottom, let the jig crawl through the cover. Pause and shake it to trigger bites from fish keyed on fleeing crawfish.
As the sun climbs and the light spreads across the flats, the bass aren't abandoning the backwaters yet, they're just pulling into denser cover. The stained-water clarity means they're still feeding aggressively, and a slower presentation targeting the grass and stumps where they're staging will load the boat. This is the window when tournament winners dial in the shallow-to-mid-depth stump programs that hold quality fish all day.
MIDDAY · 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Stump fields and submerged grass flats in the wider backwater sections, 6 to 10 feet deep, scattered throughout the Columbus and Aliceville pool backwaters off the main channel
Texas-rigged creature bait, 4 inches, 1/4 ounce, junebug or black and blue. Drag it slowly along the bottom through the stumps and grass. Let it settle into the cover and work it with subtle twitches. The goal is precision, not speed, hitting individual stumps and gaps.
The sun is high and the light is intense across the stained water. Bass pull tighter to cover and their strike zone shrinks. The midday window is about picking apart the cover methodically with a slow, compact presentation. Sonar helps you find individual stumps, then you make repeated casts until you dial in the zone. This is grind time, not roaming time.
LATE AFTERNOON · 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Same stump fields and grass, 6 to 10 feet, but shift slightly to any area with a current break or a slight depth change that concentrates bait
1/2-ounce swim jig with a craw trailer, white and blue or green pumpkin, worked with a steady slow retrieve. Vary your speed slightly and let the blade thump against wood. The solunar major window arrives around 2 PM, so this is when the bite picks up again if pressure and light are working against the midday bite.
The major solunar window sits around 2 PM, and at 68 degrees the fish are willing to feed through the afternoon if you're in cover that holds them. Water clarity is still stained, so high-visibility baits and a slow, deliberate approach keeps fish honest. This is the second chance bite of the day.
EVENING · 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Transition areas between shallow stump fields and slightly deeper structure, 8 to 14 feet, or along the edges of grass flats sloping toward the channel
White and chartreuse spinnerbait, 1/2 ounce with a single Colorado blade, fished slow and deliberate with short pauses. Let it thump through the grass edges and over any timber you contact.
As the sun angles lower and shadows stretch across the flats, the shallow bite can refire. Bass that were buried in cover during midday start moving to the grass edges and shallower structure to feed before sunset. The stained water keeps them from being light-shy, so a blade bait that creates vibration and visibility will draw aggressive strikes from fish that are staging up for the evening feed.
DUSK · 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM
Grass flats, primrose and water willow zones, weed edges, and shallow timber on both pools, 3 to 8 feet deep, anywhere bass have a quick escape route to deeper water
Dark-colored topwater frog or a black-and-silver minnow crankbait, 2 inches, 3/8 ounce, worked with a slow, hesitant retrieve. If you're throwing the frog, pop it gently and give it long pauses. If you're on the crankbait, vary the retrieve and let it die between twitches.
The light is failing and the stained-water clarity is working in your favor. Bass feel safer moving shallow in the transition to dark. The shallow bite at dusk is about creating movement and vibration without spooking fish that are getting ready to hunt the shallows in low light. A frog over shallow cover or a minnow imitation along the weed line triggers a reaction bite as the bass shift into nocturnal feeding mode.
NIGHT · 6:45 PM to 10:00 PM
Shallow grass and weed flats, docks, laydowns, and timber in 2 to 6 feet of water, especially areas with heavy primrose or water willow cover
Black rubber frog, 2 to 2.5 inches, topwater walked slowly or popped gently with long pauses between. Or a black and blue jig with a craw trailer, 3/8 ounce, dragged slowly through shallow cover.
In low light and darkness the bass move shallow and aggressive, hunting from cover. The stained water and new moon create a darker night, so bass are feeding confidently in water that would spook them in daylight. A frog walked through the shallow grass or a dark jig worked through laydowns gives you a shot at your best fish of the day if you're willing to stay and grind the shallow cover after dark.
Where to fish
- Old River-Channel Oxbows (Tombigbee channel loops) — 8 to 14 feet · Standing timber, current-break edges, hard bottom, depth transitions where the original channel drops off
This is where shad stage during the fall migration and where bass school to intercept them. Depth and structure concentrate both bait and predators. Works early and late in the day when bass push out of the backwater flats. - Backwater Creek Mouths and Tributary Entrances — 6 to 12 feet · Grass flats, water willow, scattered stumps, hard-bottom patches, the first deeper bend inside the creek where depth transitions occur
Shad are heavy in the creeks in October and November, bass follow. Creek mouths funnel fish movement and create natural feeding zones. Includes both Columbus and Aliceville pool creeks. - Stump Fields and Grass Flats (interior backwaters) — 6 to 10 feet · Submerged stumps, water willow, primrose, hyacinth cover, mixed hard and soft bottom
Bass holding in daylight cover as light intensifies. Tournament winners dial in these areas methodically. Stained-water clarity means fish stay shallower than they would in clear water. Stumps and grass concentrate both cover-dwelling bass and wandering shad.
What to throw
- White and Blue Spinnerbait — n/a · white and blue · 1/2 oz (Early morning on river-channel timber, midday on stump fields, anytime the water is stained)
Cast tight to timber, slow steady retrieve with blade thump. Work it vertically in deep cover or along current edges. - White Swim Jig with Craw Trailer — n/a · white · 1/2 oz (Morning when bass are in staging cover, midday grind, any shallow stump-field work)
Pitch to grass edges and stumps, drag slowly along bottom with crawling motion. Shake in place over cover, let it settle. - Texas-rigged Creature Bait — 4 in · junebug or black and blue · 1/4 oz (Midday or post-front when bass are tight to cover and strike zones shrink)
Drag slowly along bottom through stumps and grass. Settle into cover, twitch subtly. Precision over distance. - Squarebill Crankbait — 2.5 to 3 in · black and silver or all-black · 3/8 oz (Early morning on river-channel oxbows, shallow creek work, any reaction-bite window)
Cast tight to timber, steady medium retrieve. Let it deflect off wood and rocks. Vary speed slightly to trigger strikes. - Black Rubber Frog — 2 to 2.5 in · black · n/a (Dusk into early night on shallow weed flats, after dark on grass and laydowns)
Walk it slowly across shallow grass with gentle pops. Long pauses between twitches. Or throw and let it sit to draw strikes from underneath.
How to work it
- Working Individual Stumps with Sonar — Midday and post-front when bass are tight to cover and scattered across structure · Backwater stump fields, 6 to 10 feet deep, both pools
Use forward-facing or 360-degree sonar to locate scattered stumps and woody cover. Make repeated casts to isolated targets rather than blind casting flats. Hit each stump from multiple angles. - Following Shad Migration into Creeks and Oxbows — Early morning and throughout the day. This is the dominant fall pattern on both pools. · Oxbow sections of the original Tombigbee channel, creek mouths, tributary entrances
Start on old river-channel edges and creek mouths, watch for baitfish activity and depth changes. As schools appear, follow them deeper into backwater arms and tributary mouths. Fish tight to current breaks and timber edges. - Slow Dragging Presentations Along Bottom in Stained Water — Midday and anytime light and pressure are high, or after a front moves through · Stump fields, grass flats, timber lines, 6 to 12 feet deep
Use a heavy enough weight to crawl the bottom continuously. Drag with pauses, feel for contact, work cover deliberately. Avoid covering vast distances. Precision matters more than speed.
Pro tips
- Use sonar to dial in individual stumps instead of blind casting. Save time and cast fewer baits over more precise targets. In stained water the bass are tight to cover, not roaming.
- Watch for schooling activity in open water early and late. When shad blow up, position yourself to intercept the school as it moves along the channel edges and into the backwater creeks. One blowup often leads to a second one.
- The new moon means darker nights and a longer shallow bite if you're willing to stay late. A black frog in shallow cover after full dark can produce your best fish of the day when bigger fish are confident in low light.
If conditions change
If the front blows through and pressure rises with a north wind and cooler air, abandon the shallow stump work and fish the old river-channel edges and deeper timber on the current breaks. The current provides more oxygen and stability. Scale down to a 1/4-ounce jig and a 4-inch creature bait, slow your retrieves even more, and stay in the 10-14 foot zone. If the water clears up from the stained state you're in now, lengthen your leader to 8 to 10 pounds fluorocarbon, downsize all baits by one size class, and fish deeper structure. If the water muddies further from runoff or algae, go darker colors, black and blue or all-black, add a rattle to your jigs and baits, and fish the widest blade spinnerbaits to create maximum vibration.
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